The desecration of businesses last week was not only on Fordham Road and Burnside Avenue, but in Little Italy as well. Like many other small businesses during COVID-19, Joe’s Little Italy on East 187th St. has been working hard to stay afloat. However, after recently being looted last week, the Bronx community is rallying together to help the eatery “pick up the pizzas” with the hopes to help keep the business alive.

On June 1, everything changed when criminals smashed the glass and stole money from the pizzeria. Owner Chris Castelan, 50, lives above the store with his family and told the Bronx Times he heard the alarm at 1 a.m. and feared the worst.